Message from Dr. Jay

Some of you have heard that I was in extreme pain on our trip down here.   I woke up in the middle of Sunday night in the horrific abdomenal pain of what I have experienced before:  kidney stone!   By morning it had gone, but about an hour out of town as we began the trek here, it hit me hard.  I was in so much distress that I could not think straight and was thankful that I did not have to drive.  OTC pain meds were not touching my pain.  But thank God for the prayers, the concerns, the text messages, the expressions of caring from kids and adults, and the internet searches for hospitals.  And thank God for tylenol with codeine--offered by one of our adults.  By the time we arrived I was pain free, but somewhat 'space-y'    This morning I am feeling worn out from the struggles with the pain yesterday, but pain free.  My hope is that the stone has passed--rather than  sitting 'dormant'.  The worst moments for me yesterday were thinking that my medical issue was going to become a distraction from the purpose of our trip:  serving people in need and growing close to each other as a group.   At some point last night I realized that our kids were already doing that--partly because of their concerns for me.   I am so grateful to be with these special young people.